US military denies conducting airstrike in Somalia

Deeq A. · September 20, 2018

MOGADISHU (Caasimada Online)– The US military has denied to have carried out an airstrike against Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab group in southwest of Somalia.

The U.S. Africa Command, which has carried out more than 20 airstrikes in Somalia this year, said it has not carried out a strike there since Sept. 11. said in a memo.

The strike was targeted major hospital and nearby training school in Sakow, a town in Middle Juba region controlling under Al Shabaab.

Somali military says the strike targeted senior Al Shabaab group’s commanders and fighters in the town, killing at least 12 militants.

Hassan Yacqub, a senior militants’ commander was among those who were injured in the bombing.

In a statement aired by Radio Andulus, an Al-Shabaab mouthpiece, said the strike hit major hospital and nearby training school in Sakow, leaving 3 children dead.

The group also released photos of destroyed hospital building and a traning school in the town, while accusing US military of being behind the air raid.

The US has carried out a growing number of drone strikes in the Horn of Africa nation in coordination with Somalia’s government.

Most are against al-Shabaab but a small number have targeted Islamic State group-affiliated fighters in the Puntland region in the north.

The US carried out more than 30 drone strikes last year in Somalia after President Donald Trump approved expanded military efforts against al-Shabaab.